Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Prague and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,955 in Prague versus $1,631 in Plzen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,919 in Prague versus $2,286 in Plzen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,882 in Prague versus $2,940 in Plzen.

Living in Prague is roughly 20% more expensive than in Plzen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prague 46% above, Plzen 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.26 Kč 217
$9.54 Kč 202
7.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.90 Kč 994
$46.28 Kč 981
1.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.62 Kč 204
$8.33 Kč 176
15.49%
Cappuccino
$3.46 Kč 73.3
$3.02 Kč 64.1
14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 Kč 39.23
$2.01 Kč 42.62
-7.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 Kč 33.82
$1.68 Kč 35.49
-4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Kč 61.1
$2.73 Kč 57.8
5.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 Kč 62.4
$2.86 Kč 60.5
3.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Kč 26.15
$1.17 Kč 24.89
5.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 Kč 32.66
$1.59 Kč 33.69
-3.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 Kč 53.2
$2.44 Kč 51.7
2.87%
Eggs
$3.50 Kč 74.2
$3.26 Kč 69.1
7.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 Kč 277
$12.66 Kč 268
3.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 Kč 196
$8.99 Kč 190
2.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 Kč 279
$14.39 Kč 305
-8.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 Kč 41.73
$1.77 Kč 37.42
11.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 Kč 38.25
$1.74 Kč 36.80
4.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Kč 47.49
$2.16 Kč 45.85
3.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.78 Kč 80.1
$3.62 Kč 76.8
4.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 Kč 28.58
$1.25 Kč 26.56
8.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 Kč 24.45
$1.22 Kč 25.85
-5.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 Kč 34.57
$1.51 Kč 32.09
7.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 Kč 18.02
$0.82 Kč 17.34
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33 Kč 155
$6.91 Kč 146
6.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.11 Kč 151
$7.06 Kč 150
0.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 Kč 22.89
$1.12 Kč 23.71
-3.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 Kč 45.73
$1.62 Kč 34.42
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Prague
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 Kč 29.12
$1.23 Kč 26.03
11.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.66 Kč 544
$26.32 Kč 558
-2.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.38 Kč 50.4
$2.07 Kč 43.86
14.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 Kč 29.58
$1.26 Kč 26.73
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.57 Kč 351
$14.28 Kč 303
16.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 Kč 36.08
$1.66 Kč 35.17
2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K Kč 625.0K
$28.3K Kč 600.6K
4.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K Kč 664.7K
$29.9K Kč 634.6K
4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$311 Kč 6,582
$254 Kč 5,377
22.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.49 Kč 561
$25.33 Kč 537
4.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.52 Kč 456
$20.43 Kč 433
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.1 Kč 1,570
$63.1 Kč 1,337
17.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15 Kč 363
$14.14 Kč 300
21.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55 Kč 245
$10.38 Kč 220
11.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$890 Kč 18.9K
$326 Kč 6,917
172.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K Kč 302.0K
$8,778 Kč 186.0K
62.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4 Kč 1,810
$81.5 Kč 1,726
4.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 Kč 779
$43.59 Kč 924
-15.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.7 Kč 2,092
$90.8 Kč 1,924
8.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 Kč 2,765
$113 Kč 2,392
15.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prague
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 Kč 24.3K
$645 Kč 13.7K
77.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 Kč 18.8K
$606 Kč 12.8K
46.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,294 Kč 48.6K
$885 Kč 18.7K
159.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,502 Kč 31.8K
$841 Kč 17.8K
78.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,565 Kč 202.7K
$5,107 Kč 108.2K
87.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,192 Kč 152.4K
$4,091 Kč 86.7K
75.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prague
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,349 Kč 49.8K
$1,934 Kč 41.0K
21.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.84
5.47
-11.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Prague: July 11, 2026

Last update for Plzen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Prague and $645 in Plzen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prague pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Prague vs $46.00 in Plzen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $268 per month, with Plzen cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Prague vs Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plzen cheaper than Prague?
Plzen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Prague or Plzen?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Prague, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Prague and Plzen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Prague versus $645 in Plzen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Prague or in Plzen?
Dining out is cheaper in Plzen – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $47.00 in Prague. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Prague and in Plzen?
All in, you'll spend $1,955 per month in Prague versus $1,631 in Plzen – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Prague or in Plzen?
At $1,631 in Plzen versus $1,955 in Prague, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Plzen but tight or insufficient in Prague. The gap between the two cities makes Plzen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Prague or Plzen more family-friendly?
For families, Plzen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Prague, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Prague or Plzen?
Safety-wise, Prague and Plzen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Plzen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Prague. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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